Concord in Merrimack County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)

State House Grounds

Downtown Concord

— Est. 1725 —

By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017

1. State House Grounds Marker

Inscription.

State House Grounds. Downtown Concord. . Honoring New Hampshire History . The State House grounds hold the state's foremost display of sculpture and memorials, many fashioned from local granite. After Concord became the state capital in 1808, its citizens donated land to erect a state house. The lot was sufficiently large that the capitol has always enjoyed a spacious front yard. For many years, it was known as State House Park. Initially, a wooden fence enclosed the site; a cast-iron fence later replaced it. The existing broad, granite retaining wall has enclosed the grounds since 1915. . . The first statue, depicting Daniel Webster, appeared in 1886. Others soon joined it, as did the handsome memorial arch that provides a formal entry onto the grounds and commemorates Concord's soldiers and sailors. The post-World War II years have brought additional memorials dedicated to veterans and law enforcement officers. . . John Gilbert Winant . dedicated 2017 . J. Brett Grill, sculptor . New Hampshire's governor during the Great Depression, John Winant promoted reforms for working class families. In 1935 President Roosevelt appointed him to develop the new Social Security program, after which he served as the ambassador to Great Britain during World War II. . . John Parker Hale . dedicated 1892 . Politician and lawyer John Hale (1806-1873) was a U.S. representative and senator from New Hampshire who took an early and forceful stand against slavery. Here he appears in an ordinary dress coat of the day, extending his right arm as if addressing an audience. Hale's statue was cast at the same foundry in Germany as Daniel Webster's to ensure matching finishes and proportions. . . Veterans Memorial . dedicated 1953 . The names of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War (added later) soldiers from Concord who died in the course of duty are carved into three abutting tablets. . . Commodore George Hamilton Perkins . dedicated 1902 . Daniel Chester French, sculptor . Henry Bacon, memorial designer . Commodore George Perkins served with Captain David Farragut in the Civil War and was one of three men sent ashore to arrange for the surrender of New Orleans. The tablet below the statue, which depicts Perkins in naval dress, details his military service, further illustrated on two bronze tablets. Another nearby example of famed sculptor and New Hampshire native Daniel Chester French is the intricate frontispiece over the entrance to the New Hampshire Historical Society building on Park Street. . . Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch . dedicated 1892 . Peabody & Stearns, architects . Following advice on sitting and design procured from renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the City of Concord erected this 33’ high, arched entry with wing walls to honor its soldiers and sailors who served their country. The granite arch features carved wreaths, shields, waving banners and a Civil War Gatling gun on top. The memorial also marks the boundary between city and state property. . . NH Law Enforcement Officers Memorial . dedicated 1998 . Emile Birch, sculptor . "The Eternal Shield" is a complex assemblage of star-shaped forms honoring law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The star symbolizes a police badge, while the flame represents the life that was sacrificed. Encapsulated within the center star is a badge from every law enforcement agency in the state. . . Liberty Bell . cast 1950 . This full-size replica of the Liberty Bell, including an outline of its crack, is one of fifty-three com-missioned by the U.S. Treasury and funded by six American mining companies. The Ford Motor Company transported the bells to each state to promote a seven-week savings-bond campaign in 1950. The original bell is in Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park. Since it was cast in 1753, it has been an iconic symbol of American freedom and independence. . . Daniel Webster . dedicated 1886 . Thomas Ball, sculptor . John A. Fox, pedestal designer . The most famous lawyer, orator and statesman of his day, New Hampshire native Daniel Webster (1782-1852) represented this state and later Massachusetts in Congress and served as Secretary of State under three presidents. Thomas Ball, who designed several statues of Webster shortly after his death, depicts him in a dress suit standing in front of a stack of books. This bronze cast, which weighs 2,000 pounds, was made in Munich, Germany. . . General John Stark . dedicated 1890 . Carl Conrads, sculptor . John A. Fox, pedestal designer . This bronze statue portrays General Stark in the military dress of a Revolutionary War soldier. His left hand holds a tricorner hat, and a sword hangs at his side. The state's most famous Revolutionary War soldier and hero of the battles of Bunker Hill and Bennington, Stark coined the phrase "Live free or die" in 1809; New Hampshire adopted it as its motto in 1945. . . Franklin Pierce . dedicated 1914 . Augustus Lukeman, sculptor . A lawyer and hero in the Mexican War, Franklin Pierce is the only president to hail from New Hampshire. He served in the White House 1853-1857. Here he is portrayed with one hand on his hip and the other on a reeded column draped with an American flag. Sculptor Augustus Lukeman, together with Daniel Chester French, also designed the Pulitzer Prize gold medal. Pierce's Concord house (14 Horseshoe Pond Lane) is open to the public. . . Interested in Concord’s Downtown history? . If you have an idea for a future topic to present here, please contact the City Manager's office . at citymanager@concordnh.gov or 603-225-8570 . This historical marker was erected by City of Concord, New Hampshire. It is in Concord in Merrimack County New Hampshire

Honoring New Hampshire History
The State House grounds hold the state's foremost display of sculpture and memorials, many fashioned from local granite.
After Concord became the state capital in 1808, its citizens donated land to erect a state house. The lot was sufficiently large that the capitol has always enjoyed a spacious front yard. For many years, it was known as State House Park. Initially, a wooden fence enclosed the site; a cast-iron fence later replaced it. The existing broad, granite retaining wall has enclosed the grounds since 1915.

The first statue, depicting Daniel Webster, appeared in 1886. Others soon joined it, as did the handsome memorial arch that provides a formal entry onto the grounds and commemorates Concord's soldiers and sailors. The post-World War II years have brought additional memorials dedicated to veterans and law enforcement officers.

John Gilbert Winantdedicated 2017J. Brett Grill, sculptor
New Hampshire's governor during the Great Depression, John Winant promoted reforms for working class families. In 1935 President Roosevelt appointed

By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017

2. State House Grounds Marker (wide view; New Hampshire State House to the left)

him to develop the new Social Security program, after which he served as the ambassador to Great Britain during World War II.

John Parker Halededicated 1892
Politician and lawyer John Hale (1806-1873) was a U.S. representative and senator from New Hampshire who took an early and forceful stand against slavery. Here he appears in an ordinary dress coat of the day, extending his right arm as if addressing an audience. Hale's statue was cast at the same foundry in Germany as Daniel Webster's to ensure matching finishes and proportions.

Veterans Memorialdedicated 1953The names of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War (added later) soldiers from Concord who died in the course of duty are carved into three abutting tablets.

Commodore George Hamilton Perkinsdedicated 1902Daniel Chester French, sculptor
Henry Bacon, memorial designer
Commodore George Perkins served with Captain David Farragut in the Civil War and was one of three men sent ashore to arrange for the surrender of New Orleans.
The tablet below the statue, which depicts Perkins in naval dress, details his military service, further illustrated on two bronze tablets. Another nearby example of famed sculptor and New Hampshire native Daniel Chester French is the intricate frontispiece over the entrance

By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017

3. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch

to the New Hampshire Historical Society building on Park Street.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Archdedicated 1892Peabody & Stearns, architects
Following advice on sitting and design procured from renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the City of Concord erected this 33’ high, arched entry with wing walls to honor its soldiers and sailors who served their country.
The granite arch features carved wreaths, shields, waving banners and a Civil War Gatling gun on top.
The memorial also marks the boundary between city and state property.

NH Law Enforcement Officers Memorialdedicated 1998Emile Birch, sculptor
"The Eternal Shield" is a complex assemblage of star-shaped forms honoring law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
The star symbolizes a police badge, while the flame represents the life that was sacrificed. Encapsulated within the center star is a badge from every law enforcement agency in the state.

Liberty Bellcast 1950This full-size replica of the Liberty Bell, including an outline of its crack, is one of fifty-three com-missioned by the U.S. Treasury and funded by six American mining companies. The Ford Motor Company transported the bells to each state to promote a seven-week savings-bond campaign in 1950. The

By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017

4. Liberty Bell Replica

original bell is in Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park. Since it was cast in 1753, it has been an iconic symbol of American freedom and independence.

Daniel Websterdedicated 1886Thomas Ball, sculptor
John A. Fox, pedestal designer
The most famous lawyer, orator and statesman of his day, New Hampshire native Daniel Webster (1782-1852) represented this state and later Massachusetts in Congress and served as Secretary of State under three presidents.
Thomas Ball, who designed several statues of Webster shortly after his death, depicts him in a dress suit standing in front of a stack of books. This bronze cast, which weighs 2,000 pounds, was made in Munich, Germany.

General John Starkdedicated 1890Carl Conrads, sculptor
John A. Fox, pedestal designer
This bronze statue portrays General Stark in the military dress of a Revolutionary War soldier. His left hand holds a tricorner hat, and a sword hangs at his side. The state's most famous Revolutionary War soldier and hero of the battles of Bunker Hill and Bennington, Stark coined the phrase "Live free or die" in 1809; New Hampshire adopted it as its motto in 1945.

is the only president to hail from New Hampshire. He served in the White House 1853-1857. Here he is portrayed with one hand on his hip and the other on a reeded column draped with an American flag.
Sculptor Augustus Lukeman, together with Daniel Chester French, also designed the Pulitzer Prize gold medal. Pierce's Concord house (14 Horseshoe Pond Lane) is open to the public.

Interested in Concord’s Downtown history?
If you have an idea for a future topic to present here, please contact the City Manager's office
at citymanager@concordnh.gov or 603-225-8570

Location. 43° 12.418′ N, 71° 32.2′ W. Marker is in Concord, New Hampshire, in Merrimack County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street (U.S. 3) and Capitol Street, on the left when traveling north on North Main Street. Marker is located near the sidewalk, on the west side of North Main Street, at the southeast corner of the New Hampshire State House grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 107 North Main Street, Concord NH 03301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

More about this marker. Marker is mounted on a large, tall "kiosk-like" structure.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Downtown Concord Series

By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017

7. Commodore George Hamilton Perkins Statue

By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017

8. Daniel Webster Statue

By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017

9. John Parker Hale Statue

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 9. submitted on April 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.